U.S. Customs will impose duties on imports of unlawfully traded stainless steel sinks.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has unanimously ruled that unlawful pricing by Chinese producers of drawn stainless steel sinks caused material injury to Elkay Manufacturing Co. and other domestic producers of drawn stainless steel sinks. This is in response to anti-dumping and anti-subsidy petitions filed by Elkay in March 2012, on behalf of U.S. stainless steel sink manufacturers.

This affirmative vote is the final ruling by the ITC in the international trade investigations related to drawn stainless steel sinks from China. As a result of the vote, the anti-dumping and countervailing subsidy duties placed on Chinese imports by the Department of Commerce (DOC) are final for an initial five-year period. Four individual Chinese producers received combined rates ranging from 30.46% to 52.13% while 19 cooperating producers received a rate of 42.06%. Non-cooperating Chinese producers received a rate of 85.04%.

This vote follows a DOC final ruling last month that states Chinese producers are selling drawn stainless steel sinks in the U.S. at less than fair value and that Chinese producers are being subsidized by the Chinese government.

CEO of Elkay Tim Jahnke said, “We undertook this action because we are committed to U.S. manufacturing jobs, which benefit our employees, their families and the communities in which we operate. While the subsidization and dumping of Chinese sinks into the U.S. at illegal prices jeopardized American jobs, we are confident that this ruling will restore a level, competitive playing field that enables Elkay and other U.S. stainless steel sink manufacturers to continue investing in America to produce high-quality, innovative products.”